Altamonte Drafting Anti-handbill Law Proposed Ordinance Designed To Halt Clutter From Unwanted Ads

November 20, 1986|By Terry Osinski of The Sentinel Staff

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS — Since February Bill Fernandez, an Orlando lawyer, has been trying to get the city to pass an ordinance that would prevent his Spring Oaks front yard from turning into a dumping ground for fliers, handbills and circulars.

Fernandez sent a copy of a 1984 Winter Springs ordinance to city commissioners asking them to adopt a similar law.

Besides being ''a pain and an inconvenience,'' Fernandez said the unsolicited material also is ''a sign to crooks that the place is unoccupied.''

Fernandez, chairman of the city's code enforcement board, finally got results. The city is scheduled to adopt a handbill ordinance Dec. 16.

The proposal prohibits distribution of unsolicited material in parking lots, on public property, vehicles, unoccupied residences or homes where owners have requested the distributor not throw things on their property.

Commissioner Lee Constantine, who has pushed for the law since Fernandez and several other residents complained, said officials were unable to take action sooner because they were busy dealing with such issues as impact fees. Also, he added the city wanted to thoroughly investigate the ordinance to make sure rights were not violated and the law could stand up in court.

City Attorney Skip Fowler put together the first draft commissioners discussed Tuesday.

Commissioners Dudley Bates and Eddie Titen questioned a provision that would allow homeowners to place a sign conspicuously near their entrance bearing the words ''no trespassing, no peddlers or agents, no advertising.''

They said they did not want to see a clutter of such signs in the city.

Fowler said the ordinance would be ready for a first reading at the commission's Dec. 2 meeting.